The bishop of Worcester has announced that two of Gardner's four Roman Catholic churches will close.Bishop Robert McManus announced Saturday that Sacred Heart Parish and St. Joseph's Parish will shut their doors next summer. Both are more than a century old.Their congregations will be integrated into Holy Rosary and Holy Spirit parishes, which will remain open and consolidated into one parish.Names for the new parish are still being considered.The city's Roman Catholics had been told that an announcement would be made in the fall, so the closings were not a complete surprise.The Telegram & Gazette reports that McManus says the new parish will received a new pastoral team.

GARDNER, Mass. —

The bishop of Worcester has announced that two of Gardner's four Roman Catholic churches will close.

Bishop Robert McManus announced Saturday that Sacred Heart Parish and St. Joseph's Parish will shut their doors next summer. Both are more than a century old.

Their congregations will be integrated into Holy Rosary and Holy Spirit parishes, which will remain open and consolidated into one parish.

Names for the new parish are still being considered.

The city's Roman Catholics had been told that an announcement would be made in the fall, so the closings were not a complete surprise.

The Telegram & Gazette reports that McManus says the new parish will received a new pastoral team.